Apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing and obtaining product information through a broadcast signal. In this present invention, information identifying a product item, which is in a scene to be presented from a broadcast signal, is provided together with a broadcast signal, then a signal receiving terminal stores the product information for a new product item and displays the stored information to a viewer to select one product item while or after watching an interesting broadcast program, and transmits data identifying a selected product item to a predetermined web site and receives web site address for the selected item from that site. As a result, detailed information for the selected item is acquired from a server addressed by the received web site address.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/415,172, filed May 2, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,577),which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/832,871, filed Apr. 12, 2001 now abandoned, which claims priorityfrom Korean Patent Applications 19335/2000, filed Apr. 12, 2000,24395/2000 filed May 8, 2000, and 690/2001 filed Jan. 5, 2001,respectively, the subject matters of each application are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for providinginformation related to products presented in a scene of a broadcastprogram from a broadcasting station or an internet broadcasting serverto enable a viewer to obtain supplementary information such as shoppinginformation for the products from a network using the providedinformation.

2. Background of the Related Art

With the rapid development and dissemination of communicationtechnology, a lot of individuals have been connected to global datanetworks or the ‘Internet’ through high-speed cables. This technologymakes it possible for most people to easily access information from theInternet at home. Thus, many enterprises are using the Internet as amarketing tool to deliver product advertising information.

In addition, television sets are now able to adopt data communicationfunctions through the use of a set top box (STB), which can be used toreceive a digital broadcast signal. This means that a television set cannow be able to communication bi-directionally between the televisionviewer and the broadcaster. Now, more enterprises have begun to use thisnew technology as bidirectional marketing tools. That is, they insertproduct information into broadcast programs, rather than through astandard commercial, to be received by the television sets. Then,viewers can obtain supplementary information for buying products throughselecting particular product information using their television set.

In marketing methods in the related art, broadcast programs includeproduct information displayed during the broadcast program. When aviewer enters a specific button while watching the broadcast program,the television set maintains a still picture of the broadcast, and listsproduct names associated with the products presented in the stillpicture.

When a viewer selects one among the listed product names, the STB of thetelevision set sends a product code linked with the selected productname to a predetermined place, usually a web site of a broadcastingstation through a connected communication cable. After receiving theselected product codes, the predetermined web site sends the particularSTB of the television set an accessing address of a site which willprovide detailed shopping information including appearance and price ofthe selected products.

After the television set receives the accessing address, it can thenresend this address through the Internet through the communication cableautomatically or when a viewer requests to do so. Through theseoperations, the viewer receives detailed shopping information from theaddressed site through an STB on their television set and can thenpurchase it through an on-line commercial transaction also through theSTB on their television set.

However, this method of the related art is not very fast as it takesconsiderable time to acquire detailed shopping information for theproducts and a viewer is not able to watch a broadcast program duringthat time. Thus, viewers may not access the detailed shoppinginformation even though desirable products are displayed on a screen, ifthey are unwilling to suspend watching a program to access this service.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a productinformation delivering method and apparatus enabling a viewer to obtainshopping information independently when products are displayed in ascene.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a productinformation delivering method and apparatus enabling a viewer to obtainshopping information rapidly when products are displayed in a scene.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a productinformation delivering method and apparatus enabling a viewer to obtainshopping information more quickly when products are displayed in a sceneand also allow simultaneous watching of a broadcast program while theinformation is displayed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a productinformation delivering method and apparatus enabling a viewer to obtainshopping information for products displayed in a scene when a program isover without interruption of the program watching.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a productinformation delivery method and apparatus enabling a viewer to obtainshopping information for a desirable product which was displayed inprogram presentation without causing an interruption in the viewing of atelevision program.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, broadcast programsare provided together with product information including addressinformation of a site to access detailed shopping information fordesirable products which are displayed in the broadcast programpresentation.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, broadcastprograms are provided for a presentation terminal such as a televisionset (“TV”) or a personal computer (“PC”) together with productinformation, then a presentation terminal compares received productinformation with previous product information, stores the receivedproduct information if it is confirmed that the received productinformation is new based on the comparison, and displays the storedproduct information onto a screen or a monitor upon a viewer's request.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method forobtaining supplementary information on an item in a broadcast signal isprovided, including receiving a digital broadcast signal, extractinginformation identifying an item from the received digital broadcastsignal, comparing the extracted identifying information of the item withidentifying information of other items, and storing the extractedidentifying information based on the comparison result.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a broadcastingenhancement system is provided, including a broadcast signal receiverreceiving a broadcast signal, a decoder linked to the broadcast signalreceiver that decodes and separates at least video data for display on adisplay device and first information for selectable items in the videodata, a frame composer coupled to the display device to provide thefirst information to the display device, and a controller coupled to thedecoder and the frame composer, wherein the controller displays thefirst information concurrently with the video data according to usercommands.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, illustrate the preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the present invention.

The invention will be described in detail with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer to likeelements wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus forconstructing and delivering product information through broadcastprograms according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which abroadcast program and product information are stored;

FIG. 3 illustrates a network of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in which a digital television set is connected to a globaldata network;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital broadcast receiver according to apreferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates preferred embodiments of functions of the dataseparator and the section filter of the receiver of FIG. 4schematically;

FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of address information andproduct information received and stored according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a screen of a selectionvideo frame, which is constructed from the data example of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates another preferred embodiment of address informationand product information received and stored according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 illustrates another preferred embodiment of a screen of aselection video frame, which is constructed from the data example ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates another preferred embodiment of address informationand product information received and stored according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 illustrates another preferred embodiment of a screen of aselection video frame, which is constructed from the data example ofFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred embodiment network in which a web TV isconnected to a global data network according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of a preferred embodiment use of aweb TV according to the present invention; and

FIG. 14 illustrates the functions of the preferred embodiment streamdecoder and frame composer of the preferred embodiment web TV of FIG. 13schematically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The apparatus of FIG. 1 includes a video acquisition unit 51 which canread video contents from a data storage medium, an encoder 53 forencoding the read video contents into decodeable data at a receivingdevice, a product information composer 52 which can acquire productinformation from data storage media, a storage unit 54 which can storeencoded video data and any acquired product information, a multiplexer55 which can multiplex the stored video data and product informationaccording to particular time codes for synchronizing product informationwith video data in a transmission, and a controller 56 for controllingthe encoder 53 to encode the video contents segment by segment accordingto the commands of an operator and prepositioning a time code in boththe encoded segment of video contents and product information associatedwith the encoded contents segment.

In the above-mentioned apparatus of FIG. 1, several alternatives may beemployed. For example, the product information composer 52 may acquireproduct information by reading data entered from an operator through akey input means rather than from a storage medium. Also, the productinformation can include product identifying information such as productnames and related-scene-describing text, icons, or players' names, andany additional information such as address information of a site toaccess shopping information for a desirable product can be displayed ina scene.

The manner in which the apparatus operates centers around themultiplexer, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The operation of multiplexing andtransmission of video contents and product information begin when thevideo acquisition unit 51 reads or reproduces video contents from astorage medium and applies a segment of the video contents specified bythe controller 56 to the encoder 53. The encoder 53 can then encode theapplied contents segment into compressed data of a predetermined formatand can store them in the storage unit 54. Then, the controller 56 canselect a part of the product information that is associated with thejust-encoded contents segment according to instructions such as anoperator's command for choice of products or the like, and can store theselected product information in the storage unit 54. This selected partof the product information can then be presented in a broadcast scene tobe viewed from the just-encoded contents.

After the encoded contents and product information are stored, thecontroller 56 can generate a time code to synchronize the stored productinformation with the associated contents segment in transmission, andcan configure the transmission of both the contents segment and productinformation. After these operations are done, the configured data canthen be stored in the storage unit 54.

In the meantime, as illustrated in FIG. 2, while the encoding andconfiguring operation is being conducted or after the entire videocontents are encoded, the multiplexer 55 can transmit the encoded videocontents stored in the storage unit 54 sequentially. In thistransmission, the multiplexer 55 inserts and transmits productinformation (GI) whose time code (TC) is identical to that of ajust-transmitted video contents segment (VDS). According to thistransmitting method of the video acquisition unit 51, the stored data ismultiplexed and can be transmitted in a sequence with the video contentsand the encoded information synchronized to the time codes, where theprepositioned time codes are not transmitted.

Video contents and product information may be transmitted immediatelyafter they are multiplexed or may be stored for a later broadcast. Whenbroadcasting is done after multiplexing, the multiplexed video contentsand product information are usually recorded in a portable storagemedium for broadcasting from that storage medium when a correspondingprogram is scheduled to go on the air.

The multiplexed data from the multiplexer 55 is preferably broadcast intwo ways. One is a wireless broadcast, in which the multiplexed data cantransmitted over the air after it is channel-encoded. The other is awired broadcast, in which the multiplexed data is transmitted to allconnected data terminals, such as PCs, STB TVs or Web TVs, after theformat is converted appropriately.

Instead of the aforementioned product information transmitting method,product information may be inserted into a service information fieldspecified in digital broadcast standard to be received by a digitaltelevision set. FIG. 3 shows a network in which a digital broadcastreceiver, for example, a digital television is connected to a globaldata network, that is, the ‘Internet’. The digital broadcast receiver100 receives a wireless broadcast signal including product informationand presents high quality video pictures onto its corresponding receiverafter decoding the received broadcast signal from the broadcastingstation 200. Furthermore, the digital broadcast receiver 100 can connectto various servers including product information providing servers 300or on-line commercial transaction servers 300 through Internet.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the digital broadcast receiver 100, whichmay be a digital television, that includes a tuner 10 for tuningbroadcast to a selected frequency band; a channel decoder 11 fordemultiplexing signals of the tuned band into individual channel dataand decoding data of a chosen channel; a data separator 12 forseparating the decoded data into compressed video, compressed audio, andservice information data including product information; a video decoder13 for restoring the compressed video data into original data; a videomemory 14 for storing the decoded original video data and the temporarydata generated during the decoding operation; a signal converter 15 forconverting the decoded video data into a NTSC- or PAL-formatted videocomposite signal; an audio decoder 16 for restoring the compressed audiodata into original PCM data; a D/A converter 17 for converting therestored PCM data into an analog sound; a section filter 18 forseparating the service information data according to its attribute intopreferably program specific information (PSI), electronic program guide(EPG), URL (Universal Resource Locator)-included information for variousproducts which will be broadcast; an information memory 19 for storingthe separated PSI, EPG, and URL-included information; a frame composer20 for constructing a video frame for item selection from the storedservice information; a network interface 24 for executing internalTCP/IP program and implementing a web browsing program to send andreceive data to and from the Internet; a controller 21 for controllingthe above elements in order to execute a viewer's request; and a flashmemory 22 and a RAM 23 for storing control data which is required forcontrol operation of the controller 21.

In the digital broadcast receiver 100 configured as illustrated in FIG.4, the tuner 10 can tune a frequency band carrying a signal of a chosenchannel and can send the tuned signal to a channel decoder 11. Thechannel decoder 11 can then demodulate the tuned signal into to a4˜8-channel-multiplexed digital data stream, conduct channel-decodingfor only a data stream belonging to a chosen channel according to achannel selection control signal applied from the controller 21, and canthen output the channel-decoded data stream to the data separator 12.

The channel-decoded data stream from the channel decoder 11 preferablyhas a data format as shown in FIG. 5 in which video, audio, and serviceinformation data including product information are interleaved with eachother. A data separator 12 can be used to check the header of the datastream unit to determine attributes of the data stream unit, and thencan separate the channel-decoded data stream, which consists of streamunits, into preferably three categories according to the attribute eachheader of the stream unit indicates.

Next, a video decoder 13 can be used to decode compressed video dataoutputted from the data separator 12 into original video data, and asignal converter 15 can be used to convert the original video data intoa NTSC- or PAL-formatted video composite signal which is adequate topresent onto a conventional displaying apparatus. If the decoded frameis corresponding to an intra-coded picture, the video decoder 13 canstore every decoded video frame into the video memory 14. If anadditional video frame of a still picture is contained in the video datastream, the video decoder 13 can store the still picture frame into thevideo memory 14 without outputting into the signal converter 15.Additionally, the audio decoder 16 can be used to decode compressedaudio data from the data separator 12 into original PCM audio data whichcan be converted into sound signals by a D/A converter 17.

The service information data can preferably provide transport packetslike video and audio data, where the transport packet often has a headerand a payload field, and the header of a transport packet carryingservice information can have a type indicator. A section filter 18 canbe used differentiate between PSI, EPG, and URL-included productinformation to determine the payload field data of a transport packetclassified into service information data belong to based on the typeindicator of a header. Through this type of identification, the sectionfilter 18 can store the PSI, EPG, and URL-included goods informationseparately in the information memory 19. However, additional productinformation or types of product information can be filtered and storedin the information memory 19.

Transport packets carrying the URL-included product information cancontain information on products to be presented in certain scenes inpayload fields. This information may be product codes and URLinformation of a web site for providing shopping information such asprice and appearance, and so on. This information formation may alsoinclude additional information such as product names, stationidentification, other related products, weather information, etc.

Instead of product information, the broadcast may include an icon imagewhich can be used with URL-information provided products and entryinformation of intra-coded or still picture in which positioninformation about coordinates at which a URL-information providedproducts are present as marked or highlighted (e.g., 110) in theintra-coded or still picture. Therefore, the information memory 19 canbe able to store URL information, product codes, and variousproduct-related information or the like, other than PSI and EPG.

FIG. 6 shows an example of one of several methods to access a web siteproviding detailed information on certain products presented in a scenedisplayed on a screen of a digital television through using URLinformation, product codes, and additional information stored. However,the present invention is not intended to be so limited. In FIG. 6, theURL information, product codes, and additional information includingproduct names can be stored in the information memory 19. A product codecan be used to aid in preventing repetitious storage of URL information,etc. by preventing information with the same code from being stored morethan once by determining if a transport packet outputted from the dataseparator 12 corresponds to URL-included information. When this occurs,the section filter 18 can be used to check the product code for the datacontained in the payload field of the transport packet and examineswhether the previous code has been stored before. Only if the newproduct code is different from every other code stored in theinformation memory 19 would the data be stored and contained in thepayload. Through this operation, single storage of product codes, URLinformation, and product names can be achieved even when the productsare displayed repeatedly possibly during several scenes of a broadcast.

Additionally, a digital television can be used with a preferredembodiment of the present invention. In this case, a viewer watching thedigital television 100 can input a selection, for example by entering a‘web-surfing’ button while or after watching a broadcast program, and aseparate controller 21 can be used to stop (e.g., temporarilyalternating accesses or the like) the video decoder 13 from decoding thedata stream of the broadcast program and to read the information fromthe product codes, product names, and URL information stored in theinformation memory 19 and send this information to a frame composer 20.The frame composer 20 can then construct video frames for display of theitems for a viewer's selection of a desirable item.

FIG. 7 is an example of a screen useable in a digital television with anitem selection video frame displayed onto same. In this example, productnames and their related URL information are listed within the display sothat a desirable item can be selected by a viewer through an ‘up’ and a‘down’ button or the like. Also, in order to maximize the number ofviewable selectable products, the URL information may not be listed sothat more selectable product names are displayed onto a screen.

Upon display of an item selection video frame, a viewer can choose anitem through entering a ‘selection’ through a specified button on aremote controller or other input device, such as a front panel of atelevision, and then, the controller 21 can read the URL informationassociated with the selected product, and can activate a TCP/IP programof the network interface 24 to enable data communication through theInternet. After activation, the controller 21 can transmit the read URLinformation through the network interface 24, so one or more web pagesincluding detailed shopping information on the selected products can bereceived from a web site addressed by the selected URL information. Thereceived web pages can then be interpreted by a web browsing programthrough the network interface 24 and web pages' interpreted contents canbe sent to the frame composer 20, which can display the interpretedcontents including price, appearance, etc on the selected products ontofull or partial screen.

Through the above-explained operation, a viewer can more quickly acquiredetailed shopping information related with desirable products present ina scene displayed onto a screen from a server on the Internet during orafter watching a TV scene.

FIG. 8 shows another example of accessing URL information and additionalinformation through the use of super-imposed icon images and intra-codedor still picture images. The icon image may be more desirable because itcan be used to make products more distinguishable in a broadcast scenethan in intra-coded or still picture images, and the icon image can alsobe replaced with a product name or the like, if desired.

Again, a digital television can be used with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention. In this case, a viewer watching the digitaltelevision 100 can enter a specific button, for example, a ‘web-surfing’button while or after watching a broadcast program and the controller 21can stop a current program decoding in order to exclusively control theframe composer 20 to display product information of FIG. 8, which can bestored prior to a surfing request onto a screen. In addition, thecontroller 21 can control the signal converter 19 to output only thelatest received intra-coded or still pictured stored in the video memory14, and can read icon images and URL information having the same entryinformation or index number and send all the read data to the framecomposer 20. The frame composer 20 can then construct a selection windowincluding all or a part of the product information in a screen with thedisplayed picture in the background. FIG. 9 is an example of asuch-constructed video frame displayed on a screen. The URL informationof FIG. 9 may optionally be presented on a menu screen so that a viewercan select one item among the displayed products through an ‘up’ and a‘down’ button.

If a viewer selects an icon image related with a desirable product onthe displayed still picture, the controller 21 can read any URLinformation linked with the selected icon image or images, and canreceive and deliver detailed information of selected products which arecontained in a web page to a viewer through conducting theabove-explained communication operation using the read URL, information.

If an item is not displayed in the still picture, a viewer can requestanother picture like a previous picture or any one with productsdisplayed therein. Then, the controller 21 can examine the informationstored as shown in FIG. 8 to find out if any entry informationindicative of intra-coded or still picture preceding the presentdisplayed picture is available, and can output the picture identified bythe found entry information and URL information of products linked withthe outputted picture can be displayed.

If there is a scroll request through the ‘up’ and ‘down’ buttons of aninput device and the current selection bar is on the boundary of a listwindow, then the controller 21 can read the previous or next picture andthe information linked to that picture and can then display theinformation.

FIG. 10 shows another preferred embodiment, in which URL information andother information can be accessed through reading of specificcoordinates of a screen when product item coordinates are knowncoordinates on a screen of an intra-coded or still picture. For theviewer's convenience, it is preferable that the broadcasting stationprovides an additional still picture in which an area around a productitem where the product information is linked through a highlighted or amarked area. FIG. 11 is an example of a still picture constructedaccording to this method. In FIG. 11, an area around a product item isarrow-marked 110 and if that area is accessed through the specificcoordinates of the area, then information can be accessed.

In this embodiment, a still picture can be displayed together with oneor several marks (if a viewer requests a product selection menu of FIG.8) and an arrow-shaped pointer can be generated and displayed on thestill picture so that a viewer can select a desirable product. If aviewer places the pointer over a highlighted or a marked item, thecontroller 21 can detect the pointer's position value and can comparethe detected position value with the stored coordinate values of FIG.10. If there is a stored coordinate value whose distance from thedetected position is shorter than a threshold value, the controller 21can then read the URL information linked with that stored coordinatevalue, and the viewer can thus receive detailed information of aselected item written in a web page conducting the above-explainedcommunication operation using read URL information.

An information acquisition procedure can also be conducted in a terminalreceiving a wired broadcast signal including product informationprovided through the Internet according to the present invention. FIG.12 shows a network in which a network terminal 400, for example, a webTV, is connected to Internet. The network terminal 400 can receive awired broadcast data stream including product information from abroadcasting server 500 and can produce video pictures after decodingthe received broadcast data stream. Furthermore, the network terminal400 can connect to various servers (300 ₁˜300 _(N)) including productinformation providing servers and on-line commercial transaction serversthrough the Internet.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a web TV network terminal 400 including anetwork interface 110 for receiving data streams broadcast inmulti-casting or uni-casting format, and extracting program streams,information related to products or other items of interest to bepresented in scenes, and accessing address information from the receiveddata streams; a stream decoder 111 for decoding the program streams intocompressed video and audio streams; a video decoder 112 for restoringthe compressed video stream into original video data; a video memory 113for storing the decoded original video data and temporary data generatedduring the decoding operation; and audio decoder 114 for restoring thecompressed audio stream into original audio data; and information memory116 for storing the product information and its related accessingaddress information; a frame composer 115 for constructing an itemselection video frame, which is for a viewer's selecting a product item,from the stored information; a controller 117 for controlling the aboveelements to execute a viewer's request; and a flash memory 119 and a RAM118 for storing web browsing program and control data which is requiredfor control operation of the controller 117.

If a data stream broadcast through the Internet is in a formatprocessible by the media player of a computer based format, such asWindows™, the stream decoder 111, the video decoder 112, and the audiodecoder 114 may be replaced with a program executed by a centralprocessing unit (CPU).

In the web TV 400 of FIG. 13, the network interface 110 can receive datastreams through Internet and can extract program streams and productinformation streams according to the pre-specified protocol. Theextracted program streams can have moving picture data streams which canbe sent to the stream decoder 111 while the extracted productinformation streams can be sent to the frame composer 115.

The stream decoder 111 can be used to decode program streams intocompressed video and audio data according to attributes of the datastream, for example, as shown in FIG. 14. The compressed video and audiodata can be restored into original video and sound data respectively bythe video decoder 112 and the audio decoder 114. The video decoder 112can store intra-coded video frame in the video memory 113 among thedecoded video data under the control of the controller 117 and can sendthe entry information for indexing the stored intra-coded video frame tothe frame composer 115, which links the received entry information withthe product information received at the time when the entry informationis received.

If the data streams broadcast from the broadcasting server 500 haveadditional still picture data for selecting a product item, the videodecoder 112 can store the still picture data in the video memory 113without outputting the picture data for presentation, and can providethe frame composer 115 with entry information for indexing the storedstill picture data.

The frame composer 115 can be used to extract information from theproduct information streams and can store them in the information memory116. When information needs to be displayed, the frame composer 115 canread a part of the stored information and convert it for display onto ascreen of the web TV 400 so that a viewer can select an item.

In some cases, when product information is delivered through a wiredbroadcast digital data stream, there may not be linking informationbetween video pictures and the delivered product information. When thisoccurs the web TV 400 can preferably associate an intra-coded or stillpicture, which is received at the closest time when the productinformation, such as product code, is received with the productinformation, and can generate linking information between thatintra-coded or still picture and the information received. However, thepresent invention is not intended to be so limited. Linking informationcan then be generated and stored in the information memory 116 togetherwith corresponding product information. This lining informationgenerating/storing operations can be conducted by the frame composer 115under control of the controller 117.

Linking information must be generated and stored in order to display ascene including a product item for which product information isprovided, when a viewer requests selection menu for product items.However, linking information is only essential if simultaneous broadcastof the program and the product item is desired. Otherwise, product itemscan be listed with a background page having no relation with the listedgoods as shown in FIG. 7 for example.

In the case of wired broadcasts through the Internet, a product code canalso be included, similar to the aired broadcasts so that the sameproduct information is never stored in the information memory 116 morethan once.

The web TV 400 of FIG. 13 can show received goods information to aviewer in various ways similar to the digital television 100. Forexample, the information can be stored by the web TV 400 in theinformation memory 116 as shown in FIG. 6, and can include a selectionmenu like FIG. 7 displayed by the frame composer 115 when a viewerrequests. When icon images and URL information are provided, these canbe stored as shown in FIG. 8 and can be presented as shown in FIG. 9.And if a coordinate value for an item or URL information are provided,this information is stored as shown in FIG. 10 and a selection frame asconstructed in FIG. 11.

If a viewer selects one item in the selection frame, the controller 117can search for URL information related to the selected item, and cansend it to the network interface 110. The network interface 110 can thentransmit the received URL information to the Internet according to thespecified protocol. At this time, the web browsing program can be storedin the flash memory 119 upon execution by the controller 117. Afterthat, a server addressed by the sent URL information can transmit webpage data, and the network interface 110 can receive the web page dataand send them to an activated web browsing program. The web browsingprogram can then interpret the web page data, and send text and videodata to the video decoder 112 and audio data to the audio decoder 114,where the video and audio decoder 112 and 114 can then decode therespective received data into video and sound signals to be presented toa viewer. Through this presentation, a viewer can view detailedinformation on a selected product contained in the displayed web page.

In the above-explained preferred embodiments, URL information for a siteto acquire detailed information on a product can be provided along withother information about other items including products. However, URLinformation can be provided through a different process, such as one fora digital television, if a viewer requests it.

In FIG. 4, the digital television 100 can store product information, notincluding URL, information in the information memory 19, so that aviewer may shop for products through the Internet after a television orother broadcast program has been completed. At this time, product codescan be checked to prevent same product information from being storedmore than once by using a section filter 18 which can be used to comparea current received product code with previous ones stored in theinformation memory 19, and can then store the received product codealong with associated product information in the information memory 19based upon where the received product code had previously been stored.

Various product identifying information may be used instead of theproduct code. A product name can also be used as product identifyinginformation to prevent repetitive storage of identical products.However, products in the same category and therefore with the same name,which were presented in different scenes may not be distinguished, suchas Joe's pants and Tom's pants. Therefore, it is preferable to append toproduct name description information such as name of a place where aproduct item is and name of a player who wears a product item, forexample, ‘computer (in Joe's room)’, ‘computer (in Tom's room)’, ‘pants(Joe)’, ‘pants (Tom)’, etc.

When product information, not including URL information, has been storedin the information memory 19, a viewer watching a TV can engage an inputdevice, such as a ‘web-surfing’ button, while or after watching abroadcast program. When the input device is engaged, the controller 21can then stop decoding the current program and can control the framecomposer 20 to display product information stored based upon a requestby the viewer.

If a viewer selects one item among several items which were present in ascene displayed on a screen, the controller 21 can send productidentifying information, for example, a product's code, name, oradditional description information, associated with the selected productto a predetermined site, for example, a server of a broadcasting stationthrough the network interface 24. The server receiving the productidentifying information can then discriminate items based on thereceived information and can search for a site address at which detailedinformation for the discriminated products is accessible, then transmitthe found site address to the network interface 24 of the digitaltelevision 100.

The controller 21, upon receiving the site address through the networkinterface 24, can then resend the address to the Internet through thenetwork interface 24 and information for the selected product isaccessed and received by the addressed server. The information can thenbe outputted in a video frame showing contained information through aweb browsing function executed by the network interface 24 and signalconverting function of the frame composer 20.

The broadcasting station site can also provide brief information such asappearance and price of an item when transmitting site information forthe discriminated products. Further, when information is provided, itcan be displayed onto a screen under the control of the controller 21,so that if detailed information on the item is requested from a viewer,the received site address can be sent through the Internet to acquiredetailed information for the product from a related server.

As described above, preferred embodiments of an apparatus and method forproviding and obtaining product information through a broadcast signalaccording to the present invention have various advantages. Thepreferred embodiments of an apparatus and method for providing andobtaining product information through a broadcast signal according tothe present invention enable a viewer to acquire more quickly detailedshopping information for products contained in a scene when the scene isdisplayed onto a screen during watching a broadcast program, and alsoenable a viewer to obtain detailed shopping information for a desirableproduct which was displayed in program presentation without interruptionof program watching after a program is ended.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1. A network device of processing both service information andaudio/video (A/V) data, the network device comprising: a tunerconfigured to receive both service information and A/V data from adigital broadcasting network, wherein the service information includes auniform resource locator (URL) information; a section filter configuredto collect sections on the service information using a section filteringprocess; a frame composer configured to display an icon informing a userthat an additional information is available while displaying the A/Vdata, wherein the URL information is used to retrieve the additionalinformation; and a network interface configured to access the URLinformation via an internet network when the icon is selected, and toreceive the additional information.
 2. The network device of claim 1,wherein the service information further includes both a firstinformation on an icon image and a second information on an iconposition.
 3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the icon is boundedto the A/V data.
 4. The network device of claim 1, wherein the icon isunbounded to the A/V data.
 5. The network device of claim 1, wherein thenetwork device includes an internet protocol television (IPTV).
 6. Amethod of processing both service information and audio/video (A/V) datain a network device, the method comprising: receiving both serviceinformation and A/V data from a digital broadcasting network, whereinthe service information includes a uniform resource locator (URL)information; collecting sections on the service information using asection filtering process; displaying an icon informing a user that anadditional information is available while displaying the A/V data,wherein the URL information is used to retrieve the additionalinformation; accessing the URL information via an internet network whenthe icon is selected; and receiving the additional information.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the displaying comprises: displaying multipleicons, wherein each of the multiple icons is mapped to a product in thevideo data among the A/V data and is further located in the product. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the accessing comprises: determiningwhether a distance between a displayed pointer and the icon is less thana threshold value; and accessing the URL information via the internetnetwork when the distance is determined to be less than the thresholdvalue.
 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: displaying theadditional information while displaying the A/V data.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the displaying the additional information displays theadditional information in a partial screen while overlay-displaying theA/V data.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein displaying the additionalinformation displays the additional information in a full screen. 12.The method of claim 6, further comprising: storing the receivedadditional information to a memory; and displaying a stored additionalinformation when receiving an additional request.
 13. The method ofclaim 6, wherein the icon is bounded to the A/V data.
 14. The networkdevice of claim 6, wherein the icon is unbounded to the A/V data. 15.The method of claim 6, wherein the additional information includes atleast one of product information and weather information.
 16. The methodof claim 6, wherein the network device includes an internet protocoltelevision (IPTV).
 17. The method of claim 6, wherein the serviceinformation further includes both a first information on an icon imageand a second information on an icon position.
 18. The method of claim 6,wherein the displaying comprises: displaying a selection listidentifying a plurality of the additional information, wherein theselection list includes a scroll bar used to select each of theplurality of the additional information.